November 2006. I did it. After decades of searching for the right design, determining correct placement, finding an appropriate artist, and generally micromanaging the process to within an inch of its very existence, I got tattooed last night. Right time and right place in my life. Carol was pretty supportive of the whole thing, and aside from requiring me to explain it to her mother, she's been simply super about it all.
At A Glance Author Chuck Contact Chuck@bme.anon When N/A Artist Dave Herrold Location Minneapolis The design is a band of flames around my left forearm at just about dead center. The flames frame and support a band of heavy black Kufic script [an Arabic calligraphy script] that translates loosely "Plays with fire". Photos appear in the Fire section of the tattoo galleries.
The work was done by Dave Herold currently from La Crosse, Wisconsin. He specializes in Japanese styles, but did a fine job on my custom piece. He's done work for a number of my friends and came highly recommended. I developed the initial design and provided the calligraphy. He was great to work with and once we got past the two artists working on the same project issues, it went smoothe as glass. Most of the issues revolved around me being a total pain in the ass about artistic control. The end result was that I made sure the calligraphy was exact and how I wanted it; I chose a style for the flames and then let him work while I shut my mouth. I got an awesome tattoo out of it.
The inevitable questions: did it hurt? Yes and no. The overall result is like a mild burn or a really bad scrape. Most of the time it wasn't much more than low intensity discomfort--I've had bruises that hurt more and for longer--but by once we got to the 4th color, I was ready to be done already.
What in god's name would possess me to indelibly mark myself blah, blah, blah? I'm sorry, I stopped listening. Oh, yeah...why? Well, that's complex. There's the flippant answer: My body is a temple--ruined, covered in overgrowth, the site of intense pagan debauchery and bacchanalian excesses, and [now] decorated with colorful images. In all seriousness, though, this is something I've been marching towards for years. the main reasons are probably linked more closely to basic superstition and sympathetic magic than I might generally admit--I'm tired of getting burn by my torches. I get hit with the flame about once every 6 months on average. I get hit with hot glass or metal about once every 6 weeks on average. And I'm tired of it. Having a flame permanently wrapped around my arm should make these incidents less common. The Torch and Glass Gods, seeing the flames on my person, will no longer find it necessary to send more flames to touch me. Logical? Sort of, but only if you believe in Torch and Glass gods. There's also the matter of self-identification as a member of the hot glass community. I can be identified by other glass art enthusiasts/fanatics without requiring a specialized flame/fire motif wardrobe [which I have] or unique flame/fire motif accessories [which I also have]. Finally and probably most importantly, I like it. I just like it.
Will I be getting another tattoo? Absolutely. This is the first section of a cuff for the left arm that will extend from wrist to elbow when finally finished. I chose to have it done in sections so I can afford the work. It also lets me tweak the designs to fit the situation when I get the work done as opposed to matching some Grand Celestial Plan tm which may or may not be relevant by the time I can afford another section. I am considering work on my right arm as well. In the past, I have delivered aggressive monologues on the topic of having the name/names of significant others inked on one's body and in light of that fact, I will receive a certain amount of shit from my friends for even considering a "Carol" tattoo. Well, screw'em. We've been together for about 15 years, and even if she left me today [Hmmm...she is out of the house right now....] she constitutes an important part of my life and will always have been part of it--I think I can risk inking her name on my arm. I'm looking at some Old School Americana ideas for this. I'm also considering a "Mom" tattoo. At one point, I thought--"hey! let Mom pick the tattoo she wants me to have representing her". And then I thought about it for a second. I get a lot of my sense of humor from my mother. She'd probably find it damned funny to pick My Little Pony or some such shit. So Mom gets the same deal that Carol gets--I'll consider their wishes and input, but I get final say. anyway, I'm thinking about something pretty traditional--a heart with a scroll. I've got a simple sketch of one of the ideas in my photos.
I'm off to hit the shower and remove the bandage and see how everything is healing up.